Briefs - Virginia Beach/hampton/york

June 27, 1992|By Daily Press staff reports

FBI OFFERS REWARD FOR BANK ROBBERS

VIRGINIA BEACH - The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Beach Police Department are requesting assistance in identifying two men who have committed five armed bank robberies in Virginia Beach since November.

In two robberies, warning shots were fired by the men. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of both robbers.

Bank surveillance photos taken during four of the bank robberies depict the two robbers as men in their 20s who were wearing a variety of hats and clothes to conceal their faces. In each robbery, customers and employees were ordered to lay on the floor while tellers emptied cash drawers.

Two of the banks were robbed twice.

One suspect is described as 6 feet tall with a thin build and a possible mustache and goatee. The other suspect is about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build.

Anyone who has information is asked to call the FBI in Norfolk at 623-3111 or Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at 427-0000.

Silvestri, an insurance salesman, was arrested after a complaint that he had molested a young girl, said Sgt. Donald Moore, police spokesman.

The alleged molestation has been an on-going offense since 1991, Moore said. The case was referred to Hampton Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, according to jail records.

BURGLARY SUSPECT ARRESTED ON I-64

HAMPTON - Police have captured a 34-year-old man who they say broke into a woman's home last week and held her at gunpoint while he and another man took guns and jewelry.

Patrol officers stopped a car on Interstate 64 Friday night described in a police bulletin as the car used by the suspect.

Keith D. Rayford, whose address was unknown to police, was arrested and charged with robbery, burglary with intent to commit robbery and abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and failure to appear in traffic court on unrelated charges, said Sgt. J.L. Murphy.

The incident occurred June 17 when Rayford and an unidentified man knocked on a door about 11 p.m. in the second block of Parkway Drive. A woman, who was in the house alone, answered the door, Murphy said.

The men forced their way into the house and then held the woman at gunpoint while they stole a collection of handguns, hunting rifles and jewelry, he said.

Police are still searching for the second suspect.

GRAFTON MAN GUILTY IN GIRLFRIEND'S RAPE

YORK - A Grafton man was convicted Thursday of raping his former girlfriend after forcing her car to the side of the road.

Aaron Brady Cordle, 22, was found guilty of rape, abduction and unauthorized use of a car in the April 7 attack on Route 17, said a court administrator.

He was found not guilty on a charge of forcible sodomy.

He will be sentenced on July 29.

YORKTOWN STREET CLOSED IN TEST

YORK - A section of Main Street in Yorktown will be closed to vehicles today, Sunday and July 3-5 to test one of the recommendations in a plan intended to revive the historic village.

Vehicles will be prohibited from Main between Comte de Grasse Street and Church Street between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. today.

The purpose of the closure is to improve visitor safety. There are no sidewalks along the street.

The National Park Service will continue to conduct its regularly scheduled walking tours of Main Street.